page_title: Uriel (Supernatural)
section_title: Development
hierarchical_section_title: Uriel (Supernatural) / Development
caption_attribution_description: English: Actor Robert Wisdom
context_page_description: Uriel is a fictional character primarily portrayed by Robert Wisdom on The CW Television Network's drama and horror television series Supernatural. An angel who utilizes force and destruction to fulfill his various orders from Heaven, he has a recurring role in the fourth season. Uriel's lack of regard for humanity often leads to tension with series protagonists Sam and Dean Winchester, and even with his fellow angels Anna Milton and Castiel. Though shocked at how his character differed from typical portrayals of angels in the media, Wisdom was impressed by the depth in Uriel's characterization and felt honored to have been chosen to play him. Wisdom was universally praised by critics for his portrayal of the character.
context_section_description: Helping to flesh out the angel mythology in the series' fourth season, Uriel is primarily portrayed by Wisdom. The actor received an offer for the role without an audition. He envisioned the angelic character as "someone with wings, dressed in white, and wearing a gown", and it "really kind of flipped [his] pages" that Uriel ended up a "heavy-duty guy who wants to smite everybody". Finding the character "totally fleshed out", Wisdom felt honored that he was approached for the part. The actor prepared for the role by reading the Book of Enoch and other angel lore. He found the materials "pretty scary", noting, "There's some pretty powerful, visionary stuff, and you see a lot of angels we really don't associate with angelic life." However, Wisdom would have liked to see the compassion that Uriel portrays in other angel lore, feeling that it "would add something interesting".
  When introduced in the episode "It's the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester", Uriel is facing away from the Winchesters as he speaks to them. Noting that "No actor wants to have his back to [the main characters] during a scene", Wisdom chose to "just [have] trust" in production's decision. This choice paid off, in Wisdom's opinion, because "with every passing line, Uriel's gravity just grew". The actor elaborated, "I thought that was theatrically very powerful, because from that moment of meeting the two boys, it's very clear what our relationship is going to be and what my mission is." Uriel does not demonstrate his angelic power until the episode "Heaven and Hell", in which he effortlessly kills two demons. Wisdom enjoyed the "challenge as an actor" of conveying a power "bigger than [himself]".
caption: Wisdom was offered the role without an audition.
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